As the largest airport in the metropolitan Washington DC area, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) sees more than 27 million passengers a year, many flying in and out of Southwest’s largest East Coast hub.
Fraport USA came to the airport in 2004 to replace an underperforming program, which had been in place for 30 years. Fraport was tasked with developing a transition plan that would rapidly transform the airport to a more customer-centric environment while not losing critical passenger services and traveling needs.
Fraport USA assembled an exceptional lineup of local, regional, national and international brands to create a robust concessions program at the airport that has won a host of industry accolades. As a focus city for Southwest, Fraport has worked closely with both the Maryland Aviation Administration and the airline to assure a smooth, branded experience with a strong local presence wherever possible. Fraport aggressively recruited concepts like Baltimore’s famous Obrycki’s Crab Cakes, The Silver Diner and Phillip’s Sea Food, which are now celebrated hallmarks of the award-winning BWI program.
Even with substantial airline gate reconfigurations over the last decade as a result of mergers and acquisitions, Fraport USA has more than doubled sales and nearly tripled revenue to BWI since bringing their program to the airport. This dramatic growth clearly outpaces the 15% enplanement increase over the same timeframe and is the direct result of developing space to accommodate shifting passenger flows with what the customer wanted.
BWI Facts:
- 13.4 million enplanements in 2019
- More than 120,000 sq. ft. of managed concessions space
- Per-enplaned passenger sales have risen from $5.47 pre-Fraport USA to $11.83 in 2019
- 37% ACDBE participation rate
- Fraport USA recently participated in a two-year, $15-million upgrade to the concessions program.